Canned oil dispensing apparatus



April `16,\ 1935. w. s. TowNsEND CANNED OIL DIYSPENSING APPARATUS FiledJuly 1'7, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q M 4 El-- 5 ...IISIMUI/ .HHMMMMMHHHHWWII. 4. 5 3 f 8 1 /z 3- .m -F 8 |-m.\ T2 llllll l l I l ||Ir|.r`||M|I/|lll lfrllmnllimhwhllllllllllrwlll 37 INVENTOR d @my April 16', 1935.\ w.s. TowNsEND 1,998,263

CANNED OIL DISPENSING APARATUS Filed July 1.7, 195s v3' sheets-sheet 2WITNESSES @Qa/wwf l April 16, 1935. w. s. 'rowNsEND l CANNED OILDISPENSING APPARATU Filed July 17, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORWlTNESSE is simple and sturdy of construction, easy to operiv Patentedpr. I6, 1935 y PATENT f OFFICE CANNE!) OIL DISPENSING APPARATUS WilliamS. Townsend, Rochester, Pa., assignmof one-half to American Can Company,New York, N. Y., a corporation of New'lersey Application July 1'7, 1933,Serial No. 680,700

13 Claims. (Cl. 221--23) This invention relates to apparatus fordispensing automobile lubricating oils or like commodities packaged insealed containers.

A practice .which is becoming more and more lprevalent in themerchandising of lubricating oils for automobiles, and particularly bythe producers of quality oils, is that of supplying the oils to retaildistributors in small sealed and distinctly labeled containers such asquart cans. The purpose of this practice is to prevent the foisting uponthe buying public of substitute oils of inferior quality which in thepast has been carried on very extensively by unscrupulous dealers bothto the detriment of the purchasers and the producers of the oils.' Toevade this improved method of distribution on the part of the producers,these nefarious dealers obtain used cans, reiill them with low gradesubstitute oils, and by-various tricks palm ofi' these inferior oils tomotorists for the originals. In this way they more effectively continuetheir cheating tactics.

An object of this invention is to provide a device vfor use indispensing oils packed in producer or refinery sealed containers whichis easy and convenient to operate, and which in Opening the canscompletely destroys them so that they can not be relled or reused.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which inaddition to crushing or destroying the cans effectively and eiicientlydis poses of or stores them and at the same time recovers any oil suchas drippings which may not be removed from the cans when they areemptied. f

yfilled cans and displaying them in such a fashion as to effectivelyattract the attention of a motorist n driving into or past anoil-dispensing station in which one of the devices is being used. i

It is also an object to provide for compressing the cans when they aredestroyed in such a Way -that they Vwill take up a minimum amount ofspace and be easy to handle.

A still further Objectis to provide an apparatus embodying theaforementioned featuresl which ate and attractive in appeara/'caand alsovfully protected from the weather.

These and various other objects, as Well as the various other novelfeatures and advantages oi the invention, will be apparent when the.fol-

. lowing detailed descriptionis read in conjunctionv of a singleembodiment of the invention; Fig. 3

a horizontal sectionI taken on the line III-III yof Fig. 4; Fig. 4 avertical section taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, showing thecan-opening and lcrushing mechanism with the latter in its 5 elevatedposition; Fig. 5 a vertical section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 3 ofthe can-opening and crushing mechanism, showing the latter in itsdepressed position; Fig. 6 a fragmentary vertical `section showing thetilting mechanism for dis- 10 posing of the cans after they are crushed;Fig.

7 a horizontal section taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 1, showing thestorage compartment 4for the supply of filled cans with the cans exposedfor display; Fig. 8 aview similar to Fig.`7, show- 15 ing the storagecompartment closed; Fig. 9 a fragmentary View showing the lockingmechanism for the doors in the storage compartment;

Fig. l0 a vertical section taken on the line X-X of Fig. 9; and Fig. 11a perspective view of the 20 container for receiving thev drippings andthe crushed cans. A.

v Referring in detail to ther drawings, the embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed comf prises a housing structure which in size and shapeis analogous to the ordinary gasoline-dispensin'g pumps commonly`employed in gasoline stations, andl is adapted to be installed in 'sucha station in convenient proximity to such pumps Where it will be bothhandy and conspicuous. The main supporting frame of the device, althoughit may be otherwise constructed, comprises four uprightly disposed anglesections l which are located at the corners and securedat their lowerends tona base molding 2 andai; 35

their upper ends to a crown molding 3.

Secured to the corner sections l by suitable supports 4 in the frontpart of the structure at a convenient height above the base 3 a platform5 is provided which is employed as a sup- 40 port for anordinary-measuring and pouring Acontainer 6 into Ywhich the oil`contained in the cans being'openedt-by the apparatus is emptied fordelivery to a purchaser. lAt a suitable height above suchmeasure-supporting platform 5 a v45 second platform 1 is provided whichissecured to the four corner angle sections l and used as a base supportfor the cans, such as the can Il, when theyvare being opened anddestroyed.

In the center of this latter support in the iori ward portion thereofthere is provided a downwardlydepending funnel-shaped projection 8 in fwhich the bottoms of the cans are adapted to fit and through which ,theoil from the ,cans is allowed to flow into the measuring receptacle 65 6supported on the'lower platform 5 as the cans are opened.

For opening the cans a series of spaced vertically disposed outwardlycurved lmives Q is mounted about the upper inner face of thefunnel-shaped can-receiving projection 8 to engage and pierce thebottoms o'f the cans as they are forced onto such knives, the kniveshaving sufficient width to form relatively large openings in the cans sothat the cans can be emptied with considerable rapidity. For positivelyforcing the cans onto these knives and crushing them as they are emptiedso that they can not be reused, a movable crosshead I3 is provided. Thisis supported at a convenient heightv above the knives on a pair of guiderods I2, and is provided on its under side with a series of lugs whichforms a centering guide I4 for the upper ends of the cans when they areengaged by the crosshead.

On the lower ends of the guide rods I2 there is provided a pair of gearracks I5 arranged to engage a pair of pinions I1 mounted on a shaft I8which is suitably journaled in supports I9 attached tothe under side ofthe measuring receptacle-supporting platform 5. For turning thesepinions to operate the crosshead I3 a spoked wheel 2I is keyed to oneend of the shaft I8. Consequently, when such wheel is turned in onedirection the can-crushing head I3 is moved downwardly, and when it isreversed the head is retrieved. The wheel, of course, is provided withsuicient strength and size to easily and effectively force the cans ontothe knives and crush them. l

For strippingthe cans II from the knives 9 after they have been emptiedand crushed, a stripper 23 is provided which is mounted directly overthe-funnel-shaped opening inthe cansupporting platform 1 and pivotallyattached by a hinge 24 to the center portion of the platform 1, behindthe. funnel-shaped opening in which the bottoms of the cans are adaptedto rest. As shown best in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, this stripper has a flangedopening 20 in its center which is adapted tok fit in the top of thefunnelshaped projection 8 and engage the bottoms of the cans so thatwhen it is lifted it raises the cans with it. lTo lift this stripperautomatically it is provided at its sides with projections 23a whichextend to the edges of the guide rods I2 on which the crosshead I3 ismounted. These guide rods in turn are equipped with a pair of pivotallymounted latches or dogs 26 which are adapted on the down stroke of theguide rods to slide over and past the ends of the projections 23a of thestripper 23, but on the upstroke to engage such projections and therebylift the stripper with them, sliding as the guide rods I2 are elevatedalong the under edge of the 'projections 23a until the crosshead nearsthe upper end of its stroke when they pass from under the stripper andallow it to fall to its normal position of rest on the platform 1. .Asthe stripper is so lifted the cans are stripped from the knives 9 and bya spring 28 mounted on the under side of the stripper they are raisedfrom -the depending flanges 2|)- and allowed to slide from the stripperthrough an opening v25 in the back of theplatform 1 into a receptacle 22provided fortheirreception in the base of the structure.

As illustrated` vvbest -in' lFig.` 11,--'the receptacle 22, which isprovided in the base of the struc; ture,` cqmprisesa'removablecontainerwhich is adapted to-flt conveniently between the uprights I andis so constructed that its front portion fits under the lower platform5, while its rear portion is extended upwardly thereabove to just fitunder the upper platform 1. The former portion is provided with adownwardly tapered cover 3| which is provided in its center with anopening 32. The purpose of this section of the container is to collectany oil which drips from the 'cans after the measuring device B isremoved from its support, and to allow such oil to drop into thereceptacle. The support 5 is provided with a perforated section 33directly below the funnelshaped projection 8 through which the oil mayreadily pass into the opening 32. The upper back portion 34 of thereceptacle which is ar- 4 ranged to fit under the upper platform 1 isleft open at the top so that the cans II on being dumped by thestripping plate 23 through the opening 25-in the upper platform 1 willbe deposited directly into the receptacle 22.

To facilitate the collection of any oil remaining in the cans after theyare deposited in the receptacle, as well as aid in collecting thedrippings which enter the opening 32, a perforated false bottom 35 isprovided in the receptacle 22 above its true bottom 4I)v to form areservoir compartment 36. To ldrain these oils from this compartment`the bottom 40 is tapered downwardly and a spigot 31 provided at itslowest point, legs 29 being secured to the corners of the receptacle topermit the spigot to be so mounted and allow a-collecting pan to be slidunder the spigot. On the rear wall of the receptacle 22 a pair of spacedhandholds 38 is secured for lifting it and handling it, and to concealit in the structure side walls 39-are extended around the front andsides of the uprights I opposite it and a door 4I is mounted on theback.

In the top of the structure above the crushing head I3 a. storagecompartment is provided for storing a quantity of cans 42 so that theywill be readily available to the operator. As illustrated-in thedrawings, in this yparticular structure this compartment is defined byfour doors 43 which are secured by hinges 44 on a common end thereof tothe four angle ,irons I comprising the frame of the structure, suchhinges being so constructed that the doors may be turned through anangle of 270 from a closed position on one side of the structure toaclosed position on another side. On the inner face of each door thereis'provided a plurality of vertically spaced shelves 45 on which thecans of oil to be sold may be placed.

When the various doors 43 are closed in oneI position, as shown in Fig.8, the shelves 45 and the cans supported thereby are all enclosed withinthe storage compartment, and when closed in their other position, asshown in Figs. 1, 2 and '1, the shelves 45' and the can supportedthereby are all exposed on the outside of the structure. With such aconstruction, as it will be appreciated, the doors 43 may be-rotated oneafter the other from one closed position to another to eithereffectively display the oil when the device is open for business-or lockit up when it is closed.

. Forlocking the 'storage compartment, three .of the angle irons Iareprovided on one face opposite the doors 43 with flanged lockingplates 46 which are slidably secured thereto .by rivets 441. extendedthroughfvertical slots 48 provided in the plates 46. Adjacent theselslots are other f by the operator.

a a y 1,998,263 v jected and engaged.v To slide the plate 46 to un-,lment against invasion when it is not being used.

On the top of the frame there may be provided a translucent dome 55similar to domesl customarily provided on gasoline pumps and in it anelectric light 56 may be installed for advertising purposes. A similarlight 51 is also mounted in the 'under side of the crown mold 3 in amanner to project its light downwardly between the shelves 45 or betweenthe doors43 when they are locked in their display positions so that thecrushing head and can-receiving platform of the device will becompletely illuminated to render the operation of the emptying andcrushing mechanism visible to the purchaser.

To insure this visibility and at the same time protect the crushing andemptying mechanism against the weather, transparent Walls 58 of glassmay be secured around the back and side walls of the structure, and ifdesired a similar detachable wall may be provided for closing in thefront of the structure when it is not in use.

In operating the apparatus, a can of oil to be opened is placed onltheknife-supporting platform 1 with its bottom resting over thefunnelshaped opening 8 on the annular flange 20 of the stripping plate23. The crushing head is then l forced down against the upper end oi thecan by operating the spoked wheel 2| to force the can onto the knives 9and crush it. When the can is completely crushed or to aboutone-thirdits normal height and its contents emptied into the measuringdevice 6, the spoked-wheel 2| is reversed and the crushing head elevatedto its upper position. In the upward travel of the guide rods I2 thelatches 26 mounted upon such guide rods, which in their lower positionengage thel stripping plate 23, lift the latter plate and dischargethecrushed can through the .opening'25 in the As will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art, this structure provides not only a convenientand effective means for opening and destroying cans of the typecontemplated by the invention, but also provides a very effective andconvenient storage for the cans to be sold, as well as a very effectivedisplay means for such cans. Furthermore, it provides for convenientlystoring the cans after they are crushed and for collecting any oil whichmay drip from such cans so that it is not wasted or permitted to dirtyup the dispensing station.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained theprinciple and mode of operation of my invention, and have illustratedand described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment.Howeven, I vdesire 'to have it understood that, within the scope of theappended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise thanas-speciiically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for dispensing oil or the like packaged in sealedcontainers comprising in combination means for opening such containers,means for collecting the contents of the containers after they areopened and means for forcing said containers againstvsaid opening means,said forcing means also bodily crushing said containers to prevent theirre-use as containers.

2. An apparatus for dispensing oil or the like packaged in sealedcontainers comprising a supporting structure, a storage compartment forsaid f containers in said structure, means adjacent said compartment foropening and'destroying said containers, and means for collecting thecontents of the containers as they are opened, all of said means beingin compact alignment for ready ac- -cessibility to an operator.

3. An apparatus for dispensing oil or the like packaged in sealedcontainers comprising in combination means for storing a quantity rofsuch containers, means operative upon the opposite ends thereof foropening and destroying the containers 'and means for collecting thecontents of the containers after they are emptied, all of said meansbeing in compact alignment for ready accessibility to an operator.

4. An apparatus for dispensing oil or the like packaged in sealedcontainers; comprising a supporting structure, means on said structuredisposed to operate upon the opposite ends of a container when placedtherein for opening and crushing it to destroy it, and means alsolocated in said structure for collecting the contents of the containersas they are opened.

5. An apparatus for dispensing oil or the like in sealed containers,comprising a supporting struc-4 ture, means secured to said supportingstructure for storing 'such container, a knife mounted in said structureadjacent said compartment for opening the containers, means cooperatingwith said knife for forcing the containers against'the knife and alsocrushing the containers, and meansl disposed below said opening andcrushing means for collecting the contents of the containers.

6. An' apparatus for dispensing oil or the like packaged in sealedcontainers comprising in combination a supporting structure, a knifemounted on said structure for opening such containers,

Imeans for collecting the contents of the containers after they areopened, means cooperating with said knife for opening and crushing thecontainers after they are emptied, means'for discharging .saidcontainers from said crushing means and means for receiving thecontainers as they are discharged from the crushing means,

all of said means being cooperatively arranged in substantially verticalalignment to make them compactly accessible to an operator.

7. An apparatus for dispensing oil or the like packaged in sealedcontainers comprising in combination, a supporting structure, meanssecured to said supporting structure for storing a. quantity of suchcontainers-cutting means mounted in said supportingstructure for openingsaid containers, means for forcing a containeronto' said cutting meansand also crushing it, means for pierced and means for moving saidstripper relative to said knife support. Y

9. In an apparatus for dispensing oil or the like-packaged in sealedcontainers, a supporting structure, means in said structure for piercinga hole in a container, means for forcing a container' against saidpiercing means, means for stripping the container from the piercingmeans after the container is emptied, means for receiving the emptycontainers and means for collecting the drippings from the emptycontainers after they are deposited in said receiving means, all of saidmeans being cooperatively arranged in substantially vertical alignmentto make them compactly accessible to an operator.

10. An apparatus for dispensing oil or the like packaged in sealedcontainers comprising a supporting structure, a platform in saidsupporting structurel for receiving a detachable oil collector, a secondplatform having an opening therein mounted above said rst platform forreceiving a container to be opened, means mounted in-the opening in saidsecond platform for piercing a container mounted thereon, a strippingelement mounted over said opening to engage the lower end of acontainer, a crushing head arranged for movement over said-piercingmeans, means for reciprocating said crushing head, means operable on theupstroke of said crushing head for raising said stripping element tolift a container off said piercing means and removing it -from undersaid crushing head, and a removable porting structure, a support mountedin said supporting structure for receiving a detachable oil receptacle,a second support having an opening therein mounted above said-iirstsupport for receiving a container to be opened, means mounted in theopening in said second support for piercing a container, a strippingelement mounted over the opening in said second support to engage thelower end of a container mounted on said latter support, a crushing headreciprocably mounted v over said piercing means and said second support,means for positivelyreciprocating said crushing head, means operable onthe upstroke of said crushing head for raising said strippingA elementto lift a container off said piercing means and discharging thecontainer therefrom, a removable receptacle mounted in the base of saidstructure to receive said containers as they are discharged from saidstripping element, and

means in said latter receptacle for collecting the drippings from saidcontainers after they are opened.

12. An apparatus for dispensing oil or the like packaged in sealedcontainers comprising va supporting structure, a platform mounted insaid supporting structure for receiving a detachable oil collector, asecond platform having an opening therein mounted above said firstplatform for receiving a container to be opened, avseries of knivesmounted in the opening in said second platform directly above vsaidfirst platform, a

stripping element mounted to engage the lower,

ment provided above saidcrushing head for storing a supply of saidsealed containers.

13. An apparatus for dispensing oil or the like packaged in sealedcontainers comprising a supporting structure, a platform in saidsupporting structure for receiving a detachable oil collector.l a secondplatform with an opening therein mounted above said first platform forreceiving a container to be opened, a knife mounted in the opening insaid second platform disposed aboveV said first platform, a strippingelement'mounted over said opening to engage the lower end of a containermounted thereon, a crushing head ar ranged for reciprocatory movementover said knife and container support, guide rods and a gear racksupportably connected to said crushin said frame to engage said gearracks and positively move said crushing head, means for rotatingfsaidshaft in opposite direction, and means operable on the upstroke of saidcrushing head for raising said stripping element to lift a container offsaid knife and discharge it therefrom.

WILLIAM s. TovvNsEND.

ing head, pinions mounted on a shaft supported f

